A large circular, alkaline igneous ring complex ~23 km in diameter, about half of which is obscured by sand and scree. The arcuate mountains form the outer ring and an inner ring surrounds a central group of domes, well exposed in the Messum crater. The complex consists of a large number of diverse rocks including basalt and porphyritic lavas, foyaite, tinguaite, syenite, granites, gabbro, anorthosite and others. The age of the intrusion is ~122 Ma.

The Messum Crater (21°21'45.50"S 14°25'7.61"E), which is over 20 km in diameter, is a secluded volcanic feature in the Goboboseb Mountains west of Brandberg, Namibia. It was one of the volcanoes of the Etendeka period, about 133 million years ago.

Note: Most of this area is protected as a national park, it is ecologically very sensitive, if you visit make sure you keep to existing tracks.

Description: Only a single specimen of Topaz has been found on these plains, it is suggested that it may have been carried here by nomadic prehistoric hunters-gatheres whose stone tools are sometimes noted.

Regional Geology

This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality
is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys.
This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found.

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